The William Green Farmhouse on the campus of The College of New Jersey can easily be considered a “diamond in the rough”: a designated historic, landmark structure within Ewing Township, listed on the State and National historic registers, and home to significant moments of story and history throughout its 300+ year existence; and yet it has silently sat for decades, shuttered and empty, stabilized to prevent additional deterioration, but still at the mercy of weather, time, financial resources, and those with the ability to alter its status in a difficult situation.
But recently, that diamond sparkled at a meeting sharing steps being taken to preserve the c. 1715 structure.
Hosted by the College, the meeting invited interested parties to learn about and contribute ideas towards a future vision for the William Green Farmhouse. The “preservation plan” vision document, in preparation and presented by Trenton-based preservation specialists John Hatch and Richard Hunter, and under the direction of College Architect Maggie Greco, considers the significance, nature, and condition of a historic resource such as the Farmhouse, and determines if and how it can best be protected, improved and used.
As background, the Farmhouse was built on a large portion of land originally purchased in the very early 1700s by William Green, and occupied by several successive Green generations. The Green family was prominent in the area in the 18th and 19th centuries, and was active in the Revolution. Some historical accounts say that the Light Horse Division of Washington’s Army sheltered on the property during the Revolution. The building has distinctive features, and is the earliest known extant brick house in Mercer County.
The farm was active into the 19th and early 20th centuries, and at times engaged enslaved people to generate produce and maintain functionality. Over time the property was broken into smaller parcels, and the home and surrounding land came into the possession of the other families. In the 1960s, no longer a residence, the College purchased the property.
There have been many attempts over the decades to preserve this structure. It was an early nomination to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, and is also listed on the State and local historic registers. In 2006/7, the College funded the stabilization and secure protection of the building, but was unable to fund any additional work. For years, the “Friends of the William Green House” worked tirelessly to advocate for the house, seek a sustainable use, and build support for its continued preservation. Despite listing as one of NJ’s “10 Most Endangered Historic Sites” in 2015, no investor or sustainable purpose ever emerged, and the Friends eventually disbanded.
Yet, activity on the surrounding property has been significant and vibrant! Under the direction of archaeologist and professor George Leader, PhD, of the College’s Sociology and Anthropology Department, there have been recurring, valuable, ‘hands-on’ archaeological digs for students, engaging them in years of on-going research, study and analysis to further understand the history and significance of the site. It is a unique opportunity to have such a rich site available on campus to students, and it has attracted many students to attend TCNJ.
The positive points of the preservation plan shared at the meeting are that the building seems to be in relatively good condition structurally; it can be considered for matching grants from the State for further studies and work; it is able to offer additional historical information, data and opportunities; and it has been a demonstrated benefit to instruction at the College. Enthusiastic meeting attendees supported the quest to identify a sustainable, permanent use for the structure, and resources to fund the work.
A handful of possible ‘sustainable future uses’ for the building were presented, and additional suggestions are being sought and considered before the final document is submitted. One exciting possibility is a “Center for NJ Studies,” a collegiate/public space for shared research, education, study and discussion, utilizing the structure as an active homebase for NJ-centric work in varied appropriate fields.
Bottom line? This is great news, and all those involved are to be commended. Let’s help enable this gem to sparkle again! Any appropriate ideas, comments and suggestions sent to me at ewingthenandnow@gmail.com will be passed along to the individuals involved.
Helen Kull is an Advisor with the Ewing Township Historic Preservation Society.
,
